Ricky Lee - My Writing Hero

About a month ago, I came face to face with a man I truly, deeply adore.  I watched some of the films he's written and I instantly became a fan. I couldn't fathom how a man can put himself into some other person's shoes and be able to write about him, honestly and sincerely.  By watching his movies and reading his books, he's affected me. It was an honor to be sitting in front of him. Just recounting it makes me feel giddy all over again.  I remember seeing him around our company's compound and wished to be in the same room with him... to ask questions or engage him in a discussion or pick his brains.  I thought I could learn a lot from him.  And I was right.

With my writing Hero - Ricky Lee

It's my dream to write a book for kids. And I've written some in the past.  But I don't have the guts to have anyone read it. I'm convinced that I don't know how to write. I can tell stories sure, but everything is linear. Point a to point b. I don't know how to make it more interesting or intriguing. I'm afraid of scrutiny. I'm scared of "katay" or "baril".  Or worse, someone telling me that I can't do it.  Then he told us this nugget of wisdom which changed my perspective about the whole re-writing process, "the secret of great writing is in the re-writing."  He divulged that all of his works (award-winning or otherwise) went through re-writing.  And that sometimes, he also gets negative feedback.  And felt bad about it.  It was a divine revelation... like the burning bush to Moses.  I can now take things more lightly, the Filipino scriptwriting god (to me, at least), like me, has to do something very human... write and revise.

In one of the activities with him, he gave us two characters to write about.  It was amazing how each one of us in the room was able to write about these two in various plots, scenes and milieu.  We wove our stories in the looms of our minds. Every time someone steps in front to read his or her piece, we were greeted with a tapestry of intricate but very vivid details.  And we were all surprised that in the deepest recesses of our minds, we can still creatively imagine without the fear of being censored or being judged, like we were 6 years old again.  Something, even us, the writers thought were inconceivable.

So I'm throwing my pride into the wind.  I'm letting people read what I've written.  I hope that you would be kind enough to critique (constructive criticisms please).  Hopefully, you'd be able to help me realize my writing dream.  And yes, I'm changed.  Now, I'm willing to listen to what others would say about my work, and for my part, I'm willing to revise accordingly.  I can still hear Ricky Lee saying his piece... "The secret of..."  At the end of the day, I gave him a hug.  It was my way of saying thank you. Our meeting was short and sweet, but something that I'd treasure, as long as I can write and tell stories of my own.

Below is the short story I've done in our exercise.

ANG SIRKERA AT AND TAXI DRIVER

Sabi niya, balang araw dito kami magkikita.  Dito sa tapat ng fountain sa Ermita.  Para akong tanga.  Kasi araw-araw, pag nagbibiyahe ako, pag may babaeng pumapara ng taxi sa lugar na 'yon, iniisip ko, baka siya yun.

Bumalik ako sa unang araw na nakatanggap ako ng text message sa isang tao na hindi ko naman kilala.  Forwarded message... mensahe sa bibliya… “Kailanman ay hindi kita iiwan at kailanman ay hindi kita pababayaan. Hebreo 13:4”

Iyun talaga ang kailangan ko nung araw na yun.  Minsan, pag andami mong intindihin, kailangan mo ng makakapitan.  Nagpasalamat ako. Tinanong ko kung anung pangalan niya… Amanda. Simula nun, araw-araw siyang nagte-text. Mga bible verses.  Parang meron akong line to heaven.  Sa kanya ko nakukuha ang mensahe Niya sa araw-araw.  Naging magkaibigan kami, text mate. Minsan inaya ko siyang magkita kami, sabi niya, darating din daw yun.  Hindi ko naman inilihim kung ano ako - driver ng MGE taxi sa umaga, nag-aaral ng Chemical Engineering sa gabi.  Sabi niya sirkera daw siya.  Hindi ko alam kung feeling niya naglolokohan lang kami.  Kaya parang joke lang ang sagot niya. Pero maliban dun, pakiramdam ko may koneksyon agad kami.

Katulad ng babaeng ito na pumapara sa akin, ano kaya kung siya to? Aliw Theater sa may Star City.  Lapit lang yun dito. P100 ang inabot sa akin.  Keep the change na lang daw.  Hindi pa ako nakakalayo, tumunog ang cellphone ko, “Roman, salamat sa lahat. May iniwan ako sa likod ng taxi mo. Amanda.”  Lumingon agad ako.  Bible.  Nanlamig ako.  Itinabi ko ang taxi sa gilid ng kalsada.  Kinuha ko ng bible. Luma na.  Binuklat ko ang unang pahina - "Property of Amanda Rodriguez."  May sulat, nakaipit sa Salmo 23, naka-highlight yung verse 4 - "Dumaan man ako sa madilim na libis ng kamatayan, wala akong katatakutan, pagkat ika'y aking kaagapay." 

 

Dear Roman,

Thank you sa lahat ng nagawa mo para sa akin.  Taga-aliw pag mag-chemo sessions ako.  Taga-sagot sa mga tanong ko.  Taga-kwento kapag hindi ako makatulog. Sorry kailangan ko tong gawin.  Pag hindi ko ito ginawa ngayon, hindi ko na ito magagawa. Ano man ang mangyari, dadalhin ko lahat ng “tayo.”  Amanda

Napatigil ako.  Kahit alam kung wala na siya, lumingon pa rin ako.  Kinuha ko yung cellphone ko, tinatawagan ko ang telepono nya, cannot be reached.  Hindi ko alam pero parang hindi ako makahinga. Parang namahid ang buo kong katawan.  Hanggang naramdaman kong basa na ang aking pisngi. Para akong nagising sa bangungot. Tinawagan ko ulit ang telepono niya, ganun pa din.  Tinext ko na lang siya, wala na akong pakialam kung mababasa pa niya. “Kailanman ay hindi kita iiwan at kailanman ay hindi kita pababayaan.”

- WAKAS -